Too many people in Oxford are having to choose between paying an unaffordable rent to live here or spend time and money commuting to work from outside the city.
It’s not a fair choice. And it’s one that many people would rather not make.
We often talk about providing more affordable homes. Our housing company OX Place are building a new generation of more than 1,000 council homes. We know this can’t be the answer for everyone. But it’s not all we’re doing.
The cost of living is one of the main reasons we created the Oxford Living Wage in 2008.
The Oxford Living Wage is a minimum hourly wage rate that recognises how expensive Oxford is and promotes liveable wages for all workers.
Everybody deserves decent pay for a day’s work.
The Oxford Living Wage is updated every year and is linked to the Living Wage Foundation’s Real Living Wage. Set at 95% of the Real Living Wage for London, in 2023-24 the Oxford Living Wage is £11.35 per hour.
Oxford City Council pays this as a minimum wage to all our staff and agency workers. So do OX Place and our direct services company, ODS.
As part of our work to make Oxford a fairer city for everyone, we’re also committed to buying goods and services from suppliers paying the Oxford Living Wage.
If you’re an employer, you might be thinking “It’s been a tough few years – why should I do this?” The simple answer is it makes good business sense.
It makes it easier for you to recruit and keep staff who would otherwise find it difficult to afford to live or work in Oxford. People will want to work for you.
Your staff will be more productive and more motivated, providing better customer service. You’ll get fewer complaints and staff absences.
And investing in your staff will improve your reputation, making people more likely to want to buy goods or services from you.
But don’t just take our word for it.
Currently, there are more than 120 Oxford Living Wage accredited employers.
Why not join them?
It’s a simple accreditation system. All you need to do is send us a signed letter confirming your commitment to the Oxford Living Wage.
To find out more, visit our Oxford Living Wage page.
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